Converting foot pegs To an adjustable foot brace Footpegs just aren't big enough for my feet. So how to easily convert them into an adjustable foot brace?

The foot pegs on my new Placid Boatworks Rapidfire are too small for my big feet and I really would prefer a foot brace (bar) that goes all the way across the hull that I can adjust on the fly. It would give me more positions for my feet and eliminate any chance my feet would slip off. The existing foot pegs are adjustable and have holes through them that I could use for mounting screws. Installing a bar with them in one position would be easy.

Unfortunately the hull is narrower in the front so there is about a 2" difference between foward and back positions of the foot pegs. Not a problem with the existing pegs which move independently but to have a bar that can easily be repositioned forward and back, the bar would need to be telescoping to adjust for the difference in width.

I thought maybe I could use two diameters of PVC, or maybe a pool skimmer handle that telescopes that could be cut down....

Walking through my local hardware store today I went down an isle with curtain rods. I saw a nice heavy duty rod for twenty bucks that telescopes which can be easily cut to length. I gave it the knee test to see if I could bend it. Nope, good and stiff. The rod has a built in cam lock to adjust the amount of pressure it takes to slide both ends in and out.

I already have a couple of nice stainless clamps that fit the rod at both ends I can use to bolt through the holes in the foot pegs (no drilling!). I will pick up a couple of nice stainless bolts, washers, and locking nuts and install it so it's ready for the first paddle. I should then have a nice sturdy foot brace I can adjust forward and back while paddling.

I'll post a picture and let you know the results when it's done and how much additional weight it adds. Before cutting, the rod weighs in at 14.2 ounces including the clamps. I'm guessing it will add about 8-9 ounces once it's cut down (almost in half) and installed. If I want to remove the foot brace later, no holes were required so the boat is back to its original pegs by just undoing the two screws.
Sounds like a plan...
Steve johnson

Works as planned and I can push or pull it with my feet to adjust it on the fly.